The Bottom Line 2008 Home Maintenance Month-by-Month Guide

Danny Lipford

I nvest a few hours each month, and you can keep your house looking
great and avoid expensive repairs down the road. Here's my smart home
owner's maintenance calendar...

January

This is a good time to address some interior issues...

Start a to-do list. Walk through your home, jotting down projects and
maintenance problems you notice or that have been on your mind. Carry
a screwdriver and a can of machine oil so you can immediately take
care of minor issues, such as loose door handles and squeaky hinges.

Declutter your closets. Throw away anything you don't need. Buy
additional shelves, hooks and boxes to organize everything that
remains. Next: Declutter the laundry room, another often disorganized,
small space.

Consider your flooring. January is a slow month for carpet sellers and
floor refinishers, so it is a good time to get a deal on a replacement
or spruce-up.

February

Tackle more indoor tasks before the warmer weather arrives...

Examine bathroom and kitchen caulking. If you find gaps between the
tub or shower and the floor and walls, or between the countertop and
backsplash, recaulk.

Check under sinks and around toilets and showers for signs of leaks.
Also repair dripping faucets -- if you don't know how, a local
handyman may do the job at about half the price of a plumber. Save
plumbers for bigger, complex jobs.

Call to have your central air-conditioning serviced. Set up the
appointment now for March or April to avoid the summer rush. The
service will make sure that your compressor and air handler are
working well and that the condensate drain is clear.

March

Winter's ending. It's time to...

Search for peeling exterior paint. Harsh winter weather can cause
paint to chip, peel or flake, exposing wood to the elements. Touch up
bare spots now to prevent moisture problems later. First, scrape and
sand any loose paint, then prime and add at least one top coat.

Prep your lawn. Apply a preemergent fertilizer to your grass in March
(or as soon as the snow melts), and you'll have fewer weeds and
healthier grass come April. A local nursery can recommend a fertilizer
appropriate for your yard.

Examine the foundation. Take a walk around the exterior and interior
of your foundation (if accessible) in search of cracks. Small cracks
should be filled with caulk and monitored to make sure they aren't
widening. If you see large cracks, call a building contractor or
structural engineer to inspect. Check cement walkways and driveways.
If you find a crack, use a leaf blower to clear out debris, then seal
with caulk made for your type of surface (asphalt, concrete, etc.).
Use mortar only if the crack is more than a half-inch wide.

Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when
you change the clocks for daylight saving time.

April

Start your spring cleaning...

Wash your windows, both inside and out. Also scrub the window frames
and shutters. Replace storm windows and doors with screens.

Pressure-wash outside surfaces. Spray sidewalks, driveways, exterior
siding, decks and fences. Pressure washers can be rented for $50 to
$75 a day -- split the rental cost with a neighbor. Important: High-
powered pressure washers can damage siding and decks if used
improperly. Read the unit's operating instructions carefully.

Test your underground lawn sprinkler system. Monitor the system
through a full cycle to make sure it survived the winter in good
shape. Some sprinkler heads might need to be cleaned or adjusted.

Degrease your barbecue grill with a stiff brush and detergent. Gas
grills require disassembly to clean burners. Use a soap solution to
check the regulator and hoses for leaks (see your owner's manual).

Clean and check gutters. Remove leaves and other debris from gutters.
If you find any cracks or leaky seals, clean the area and use a putty
knife to apply a thick coat of butyl rubber caulk. When the caulk
dries, flush out your downspouts with a garden hose. If the downspouts
don't effectively divert the water away from your foundation, buy
splash blocks and place one under each gutter downspout.

May

Make sure the dehumidifier is working properly if you live where it's
humid and your entire home isn't air-conditioned.

Vacuum window air conditioners, then make sure there is no air leakage
around them (use removable rope caulk if necessary) and they are
operating properly.

Examine your deck for signs of deterioration. Tighten screws and
railing bolts, and hammer down any exposed nails. Clean and reseal
wood surfaces. Also check patio furniture for rust. Scrub rusted areas
with a wire brush, then prime and paint.

Check and repair weather stripping and caulking. Gaps around your
doors and windows inflate energy bills.

June

Time to make some final preparations for the hot weather...

Change the filters at all air returns of your air-conditioning system.
While you're at it, vacuum out the cavity behind the filters.

If you have a fan in the gable end of your home to evacuate hot air
from your attic, make sure it is working. Confirm that the turbine
vents spin freely. While you're in the attic, look for signs of
moisture that might indicate the roof is leaking.

Hire a chimney sweep. If you use your fireplace regularly, you should
have the chimney cleaned at least every other year. The best time to
schedule an appointment is early summer, when business is slow for
chimney sweeps.

July

The month for outdoor projects...

Paint. July is warm and relatively dry (in most regions), making it a
good time for exterior painting projects.

Inspect your roof shingles. If you don't want to risk climbing on your
roof, use binoculars to carefully scan it for damaged and missing
shingles.

Care for your garage door. Tighten screws and bolts. Make sure the
auto-reverse is working. Use a light grease recommended in the owner's
manual to lube the rollers. Important: Don't use a spray-on lube,
which will sprinkle down on the car when you open the door.

August

August is the time to tackle those remaining outdoor projects or head
inside if you've had enough sun...

Mend fences. Replace broken or rotting boards. Repaint fences if
necessary. Oil hinges on gates.

Trim bushes and shrubs around your house. Your home has an increased
risk of mold and mildew problems if you let plants grow within 12
inches of its exterior walls.

Clean your dryer vent system. Disconnect the vent from the dryer and
remove built-up lint. A leaf blower attached to the inside end of the
vent can quickly clear it out.

Call to have your gas or oil furnace or boiler serviced. It is best to
set up the appointment before the cool weather comes. For forced-air
furnaces, install a new filter every month during peak heating season.

September

Summer's over. Time to...

Protect your firewood. Cover your woodpile with a tarp, or move a
winter's worth of wood into the garage or under an overhang, where it
will stay dry.

Drain and refill your water heater. Cleaning out sediment once a year
will improve efficiency and extend the life of the unit. Check the
manufacturer's instructions.

Clean bathroom exhaust fans and kitchen vent hoods. Dust, dirt and
mold can build up, reducing efficiency and air quality. Vacuum the fan
assembly. Clean the grille and vent hoods with a mild detergent, and
dry with a soft cloth. Never use abrasive cleansers.

Shut down dehumidifiers for the year. Empty the reservoir completely,
and wipe it down with a bleach solution to kill any mold growth.

October

Cold weather's on the way...

Take in or cover outdoor equipment. Clean and store the barbecue and
patio furniture. Change the mower's oil, clean its blades and drain
the gas. Call your town to find out about disposal points for the
drained gas.

Test your snowblower. Make sure that all winter equipment is working.

Drain your lawn sprinkler system. Follow your system's winterization
instructions. Also, store hoses and turn off the water to outside
faucets, but leave them slightly open so that they drain.

Rake often. Aim for every week or so when leaves are falling. If you
wait until the end of the season, the job will be much harder, and
your lawn will be starved for sun. Buy a leaf blower if raking is too
hard on your back.

Service your generator if you have one. Stock up on flashlights,
candles, canned food and water in case of power outages.

November

Late-fall chores...

Tidy up your yard. Trim plants, remulch gardens and rake up the last
leaves to keep your yard looking nice through March.

Clean and stow lawn and garden tools. Use a wire brush to remove any
rust, and apply a thin film of oil to metal-on-metal surfaces.

Replace batteries in fire and carbon monoxide detectors. Do this when
you adjust clocks for the end of daylight saving time on November 2,
2008.

December

Winter is here...

Make sure extension cords for holiday decorations that are used
outside are rated for this use. All outdoor lights should also be
plugged into a ground-fault-interrupter (GFI) receptacle.

Add adhesive-backed nonskid strips to stairs and other dangerous
areas, because you will be indoors more. Keep walkways free of ice.


Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Danny Lipford, host of the nationally
syndicated program Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford and home-
improvement expert for The Weather Channel and CBS's The Early Show.
Based in Mobile, Alabama, he has worked as a remodeling contractor for
more than 28 years and has renovated more than 3,000 homes. www.dannylipford.com